Phillips Exeter Academy vs. Deerfield Academy
Should you attend Phillips Exeter Academy or Deerfield Academy? Visitors to our site frequently compare these two schools. Compare their rankings, scores, reviews and more to help you determine which school is the best choice for you.
School Overview
Top Rankings
Phillips Exeter Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Faculty Education
Selectivity
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
School History
Deerfield Academy ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
School Resources
School Resources
Selectivity
Offering Breadth
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores
Student Test Scores
School History
Overview
Phillips Exeter Academy has a tradition of academic excellence, a distinguished faculty, and a long history of educating young people to find their place in the world. The heart of Exeter is its signature Harkness method of instruction.
The Harkness philosophy, developed at Exeter over 80 years ago, is centered on a way of thinking and engaging with others that requires preparation and provides a sense of readiness for learning, for college, for life. Exeter is a school for teenagers who want to be surrounded by peers who share their intellectual curiosity and raw excitement about learning.
The school is alive with learning: spirited conversations spill out of classrooms and make their way to the playing fields, theater stages, laboratories, the dining halls and the dorms.
Students are given the freedom to explore and know their intellect, to challenge themselves in new ways, and enjoy the richness of human interaction.
Deerfield Academy is an independent secondary school committed to high standards of scholarship, citizenship, and personal responsibility.
Through a rigorous liberal arts curriculum, extensive cocurricular program, and supportive residential environment, Deerfield encourages each student to develop an inquisitive and creative mind, sound body, and strong moral character.
Set in a historic village bounded by river, hills, and farms, Deerfield inspires reflection, study and play, abiding friendships, and a defining school spirit.
A vibrant, ethical community that embraces diversity, the Academy prepares students for leadership in a rapidly changing world that requires global understanding, environmental stewardship, and dedication to service.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered
9-12, PG
9-12, PG
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
ADD/ADHD Support
No
No
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
No
No
Year Founded
1781
1797
Campus Size
700 acres
330 acres
Students Body
Enrollment
1106
653
% Students of Color
57%
32%
% International Students
10%
12%
% Students Boarding
81%
88%
Average SAT Score
n/a
1400
Average ACT score
n/a
31
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
Yes
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
Yes
No
Frequency of Saturday Classes
Bi-Weekly
Weekly
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Formal
Average Class Size
12
12
Student : Teacher ratio
6:1
6:1
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
n/a
40
ESL Courses Offered
No
No
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
93%
70%
Summer Program Offered
Yes
Yes
Finances
Endowment Size
n/a
$840 million
Tuition (Boarding Students)
$67,315
$70,900
Tuition (Day Students)
$52,577
$51,000
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$56,135
$53,000
Admission
Application Deadline
Jan. 15
Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application
No
No
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Average Percentile SSAT
94
85
Acceptance Rate
17%
13%
Director of Admissions
Matti Donkor
Charles F. Davis, Jr.
Associate Director of Admissions
n/a
Gen Pitt
# of AP/Advanced Courses Offered
n/a
40
Sport
Total Sports Offered
28
28
Sports
Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Dance, Diving, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Water Polo, Winter Track, Wrestling
Alpine Skiing, Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Cycling, Dance, Diving, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Skiing, Soccer, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wrestling
Extracurricular
Total Extra-curric.Total Extracurriculars
n/a
39
Extra-curric.Extracurriculars
n/a
Albany Road, Lit Magazine, Alpine Skiing, Amnesty International, Angling Club, Animal Rights Club, Arabic Club, Archery Club, Asian Student Association, Asian Students Association, Ballet, Ballroom Dancing, Basketball, Black Student Alliance, Black Student Coalition, Cheerleaders, Chess, Chinese Club, Chorus, Christian Fellowship, Christian Fellowship Club, Classical Music Society, Classics Club, Community Service, Computer Club, Current Issues Speakers Club, Dance, Debate Forum, Deerfield Scroll, Diversity Club, Environmental Action Group, Fire Department Volunteers, Fly Fishing Club, Food Club, Knitting, Poetry Night, Residence Hall Student Government, Ski/Snowboarding, Yearbook